Caminargent Caminade - should i do it?
#1
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Caminargent Caminade - should i do it?
there's a gorgeous 650B Caminade Caminargent randonneur on eBay right now, ends tomorrow. I'm guessing the bidding will end north of $3,000.
I'm thinking of going for it. it's my size, and in great, nearly complete condition. i've never seen one like this in my size, and doubt i will ever again. on the downside, it's hideously expensive and i'll have to sell off most of my collection to afford it. still, it's one heck of a bike.
what do you guys think?
I'm thinking of going for it. it's my size, and in great, nearly complete condition. i've never seen one like this in my size, and doubt i will ever again. on the downside, it's hideously expensive and i'll have to sell off most of my collection to afford it. still, it's one heck of a bike.
what do you guys think?
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#2
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Purdy! Is that a shifter on the top tube? And do I see a three speed freewheel? Funny, I don't see a derailleur anywhere... but that wasn't your question, was it?
Selling off the "collection" to fund that, assuming you're selling a bunch of "B" quality items that no longer interest you to buy one "A" quality item? Yes, that makes sense. Whatever the Caminargent sells for this time, it is fairly likely to sell for a similar amount another time. Maybe even more, in which case it might even qualify as an "investment."
Selling off bikes you tinker with and modify to suit your whims and actually ride, to fund one you would would never tinker with, never modify, and only ride on special occasions? No, that doesn't make any sense at all.
In other words, it might make sense for you, but it would never make sense for me.
Selling off the "collection" to fund that, assuming you're selling a bunch of "B" quality items that no longer interest you to buy one "A" quality item? Yes, that makes sense. Whatever the Caminargent sells for this time, it is fairly likely to sell for a similar amount another time. Maybe even more, in which case it might even qualify as an "investment."
Selling off bikes you tinker with and modify to suit your whims and actually ride, to fund one you would would never tinker with, never modify, and only ride on special occasions? No, that doesn't make any sense at all.
In other words, it might make sense for you, but it would never make sense for me.
Last edited by rhm; 01-02-13 at 10:41 AM.
#3
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Yes. IMO, truly rare birds such as this Carminargent are likely to retain their value at least as well or better than other bikes. Once you recover from the initial expense, you can slowly start rebuilding your collection. Then you won't have to worry about the One That Got Away. (Keep in mind, I'm an enabler and it's not my money! )
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'72 Cilo Pacer '72 Peugeot PX10 '73 Speedwell Ti '74 Nishiki Competition '74 Peugeot UE-8 '86 Look Equipe 753 '86 Look KG86 '89 Parkpre Team Road '90 Parkpre Team MTB '90 Merlin Ti
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-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer '72 Peugeot PX10 '73 Speedwell Ti '74 Nishiki Competition '74 Peugeot UE-8 '86 Look Equipe 753 '86 Look KG86 '89 Parkpre Team Road '90 Parkpre Team MTB '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
#4
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What a great bike to have around, and ride carefully now & then, but you need one bike to ride all the time.
You ride all the time, right?
You ride all the time, right?
#6
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Yes. Can't go wrong with a rare bike like that one. I'd rather have one special bike than 5 to ten mediocre ones. That said, it depends some on what you're getting rid of to do this.
Last edited by rootboy; 01-02-13 at 11:05 AM.
#7
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I think they are kind of fragile, but I don't know. Here's the website of one guy who does: https://www.thevintagebikelife.com/#!__main-menu
He owns (or owned) at least one and is a serious, deep collector with extremely well-informed opinions.
He owns (or owned) at least one and is a serious, deep collector with extremely well-informed opinions.
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Michael Shiffer
EuroMeccanicany.com
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#8
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the only rare bike of mine that would be sold off would be an '89 Zunow with full Sugino 75 group set.
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#9
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Yes, yes, yes!! Buy it but save one a beater to ride everyday..then you have your cake and you can it it too
From the sellers listing:
Purdy! Is that a shifter on the top tube? And do I see a three speed freewheel? Funny, I don't see a derailleur anywhere...
From the sellers listing:
The back derailleur is missing, it would have been a standard Super-Champion to match the lever that is still there on the top tube. Not a problem to source this one missing part.
Last edited by Velognome; 01-02-13 at 12:07 PM.
#10
Shifting is fun!
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You only live once, and how often do they come around in the right size and condition? Get it while you can.
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This is a good point. After thinking about your question, after I wrote my response, I came to the conclusion that the biggest fear I would have buying something like this sight-unseen, is the possibility of a hairline crack somewhere. Aluminum has a tendency to be brittle, and if this bike was ever used for loaded touring... well, I'd be very careful. Personally, I'd rather have a steel Singer or Herse, but those probably command more.
#14
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This is a good point. After thinking about your question, after I wrote my response, I came to the conclusion that the biggest fear I would have buying something like this sight-unseen, is the possibility of a hairline crack somewhere. Aluminum has a tendency to be brittle, and if this bike was ever used for loaded touring... well, I'd be very careful. Personally, I'd rather have a steel Singer or Herse, but those probably command more.
...The bicycle still liked to twist despite the screws employed to strengthen the frame, and with compromised integrity fine tears could appear.
The few surviving Carminargent bikes should therefore be ridden gently, and only on special occasions.
Caminargents were anomolies, and extremely flawed in their design and construction. They rode like spaghetti, hence they had no racing history at all.
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
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#15
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But they're so pretty!
#16
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I like to ride what I have. This is too much($) for too little (utility with low risk). JMHO. If I had enough resources such that I didn't have to give anything up, then I would consider it. I would rather someone who can afford to have $3000+ wall hangers preserve it than for me to sacrifice utility and accept the risk of terminal failure due to poor design.
#17
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man you guys are starting to talk some sense into me.
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#18
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man you guys are starting to talk some sense into me.
Unlike most substance-abuse support groups whose job is to help each other conquer their addiction, C&V's mission is to make sure each of its members devotes maximum time and money to the business of acquiring and maintaining ancient bicycles.
We are failing, brothers, failing!
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#19
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Framebuilder Marten Gerritsen put a Barra, an alloy bike of similar age (different construction - gas welded instead of screwed together) on an allignment table and it was the most flappy thing he'd ever
measured... Be advised, the technology was still very much in it's infancy.
measured... Be advised, the technology was still very much in it's infancy.
#20
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Now this is a problem.
Unlike most substance-abuse support groups whose job is to help each other conquer their addiction, C&V's mission is to make sure each of its members devotes maximum time and money to the business of acquiring and maintaining ancient bicycles.
We are failing, brothers, failing!
Unlike most substance-abuse support groups whose job is to help each other conquer their addiction, C&V's mission is to make sure each of its members devotes maximum time and money to the business of acquiring and maintaining ancient bicycles.
We are failing, brothers, failing!
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'72 Cilo Pacer '72 Peugeot PX10 '73 Speedwell Ti '74 Nishiki Competition '74 Peugeot UE-8 '86 Look Equipe 753 '86 Look KG86 '89 Parkpre Team Road '90 Parkpre Team MTB '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer '72 Peugeot PX10 '73 Speedwell Ti '74 Nishiki Competition '74 Peugeot UE-8 '86 Look Equipe 753 '86 Look KG86 '89 Parkpre Team Road '90 Parkpre Team MTB '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Framebuilder Marten Gerritsen put a Barra, an alloy bike of similar age (different construction - gas welded instead of screwed together) on an allignment table and it was the most flappy thing he'd ever
measured... Be advised, the technology was still very much in it's infancy.
measured... Be advised, the technology was still very much in it's infancy.
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
#22
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Different strokes And apparently gas welding thinwall alloy requires mythical welding skillz, so that adds to the uniqueness of the frame.
#24
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aixaix, this is not old bikes anonymous. This is the bar.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#25
Get off my lawn!
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